Newsletter

Exchange in brief

American workers stay longer in the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other rich nations, and they produce more per person over the year.

They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, according to a U.N. report released today, which said the United States "leads the world in labor productivity."

The average U.S. worker produces $63,885 of wealth per year, more than their counterparts in all other countries, the International Labor Organization said in its report. Ireland comes in second at $55,986, followed by Luxembourg at $55,641, Belgium at $55,235 and France at $54,609.

WORLD

Woman, child killed in stampedes in Zimbabwe

A woman and a child were killed in stampedes at a Zimbabwe agriculture show packed with people lured by scarce snack foods and cheap Chinese toys and exhibitors hoping to skirt a government price freeze and sell their animals, police said Sunday.

The two died Saturday in two separate surges against the exit gates as the show at the Harare Exhibition Park was closing, police spokesman James Sabau told state radio. People were hurrying to get into lines for public transportation outside, witnesses said. Acute gasoline shortages have crippled transportation services and commuters routinely wait more than three hours to board buses for a 30-minute trip to the capital Harare's impoverished satellite townships.

Attendance at the six-day annual event was the highest in years, with many people hoping to find produce that has disappeared from stores along with meat, corn meal, bread, milk, eggs and other staples amid soaring inflation.

Gaz de France, Suez agree to merger terms

Utility giant Suez SA and state-owned Gaz de France agreed Sunday to new terms for a long-stalled merger that would create a global energy behemoth minority-owned by the French state, an official said.

Both companies' boards met Sunday night and approved an outline of the new deal, said a participant in the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks. The companies were expected to release financial details of the plan today.

The merged entity, called GDF-Suez, would be worth about 80 billion euros ($110 billion), presidential spokesman Claude Gueant said. He said the new terms give the state a greater say than the earlier deal.